The project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV” was launched within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine for 2023-2026. The project is built on the results and experience of the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” in 2020-2024. The project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV” aims to ensure that young people in Ukraine benefit from participatory youth policies and quality youth work to strengthen their own resilience and well-being in order to realise their human rights in wartime and post-war times and play an important role in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.

The Project: “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV”

Duration: 21 months (1 April 2025 – 31 December 2026)

Place/country: Ukraine

Funding: Voluntary contributions

Central to the project are support measures and capacity-building activities in the fields of youth policy, youth work, and democratic participation in Ukraine. These efforts are based on Council of Europe youth sector standards and tools and take into account the specific needs of young people in war and post-war context.

The project directly responds to the priorities set by the Reykjavik Summit, in particular the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy, which emphasises that ensuring a democratic future for all in Europe requires investment in the participation of young people in democratic life and decision-making processes, including through education about human rights and core democratic values such as pluralism, inclusion, non-discrimination, transparency, and accountability.

The project remains rooted in the Council of Europe Youth Strategy 2030, which places a specific emphasis on: increasing the capacity of youth civil society to advance participatory democracy and democratic citizenship within and beyond their memberships; conducting more policies and governance processes in a meaningful, participatory manner, involving diverse groups of young people and their representatives/organisations; and strengthening youth policy and youth work in removing barriers to youth participation. Furthermore, the strategy also sets out youth work as one of its priorities, with focus on: strengthening, recognising and advancing youth work policies and practices by embedding youth work within youth policy frameworks, improving the quality of youth work delivered by both volunteer and paid youth workers, and extending the access and attractiveness of youth work and non-formal education/learning for the benefit of wider populations of young people.

The project reflects the youth policy reforms in Ukraine, notably the National strategy of the State Youth Policy 2030, the State Target Social Programme “Youth of Ukraine” 2021-2025, and the State Target Social Programme 2026-2030, which is being developed.

The project engages youth policy stakeholders and youth work providers in Ukraine in the dissemination and implementation of the Committee of Ministers recommendations on access to rights for young people (CM(2016)7),  youth work (CM(2017)4), access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights (CM (2015)3), on protecting youth civil society and young people, and supporting their participation in democratic processes (CM/Rec(2022)6), and on Roma youth participation (CM/Rec(2023)4).

The Project will be implemented within three main components that will be implemented in parallel and have cross-cutting measures:

• participatory youth policy
• recognition of youth work in wartime;
• support for youth CSOs, youth councils, student self-government bodies, youth centres as platforms for civic engagement and democratic participation.

Intermediate outcomes

• Youth policies and programmes at national and regional levels are adapted to strengthen youth participation in decision-making processes and enhance the quality of youth work, taking into account the war and post-war realities of young people.
• Youth workers, youth centres, and youth organisations in Ukraine provide quality services to young people, through youth work and non-formal education, particularly young IDPs, returnees, and war-affected young people, in line with Council of Europe standards and approaches, and with peer support of youth centres awarded with the Council of Europe Quality Label.
• Youth civil society organisations, youth councils, student self-governed bodies, youth centres meaningfully participate in decision-making processes at national, regional, and local levels, advocate for the needs of young people affected by the war and facilitate their access to rights. 

The Project: “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: III Phase”

Duration: 24 months (1 January 2023 – 31 December 2024)

Place/ country: Ukraine

Funding: Voluntary contributions

Impact expected

Young people in Ukraine benefit from participatory youth policy and quality youth work to strengthen own resilience and well-being; to exercise their human rights and freedoms, democratic participation and citizenship in a war and post-war time.    

The Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” stresses the importance of the Council of Europe youth sector strategy 2030 and  reflects the National strategy of the State Youth Policy 2030, the  State Target Social Programme “Youth of Ukraine” 2021-2025.

The Project will engage youth policy stakeholders and youth work providers in Ukraine in the implementation and  dissemination of Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member  states: on Access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social  rights (CM (2015) 3), on Access to rights for young people (CM(2016)7) and on youth work (CM(2017)4).

The Project will be implemented within the following components with the respective activities:

• youth policy based on participatory approaches;
• recognition of youth work in wartime;
• support of youth centers and youth organisations as civic activity and democratic participation.

Intermediate outcomes

• Civil servants (with at least 40% women) at local, regional and national levels adjust priorities and means of youth policies and programmes taking into account the war and post-war realities of young people applying the policy setting documents of the Council of Europe.
• Young people participate in democratic processes at national, regional and local levels (including youth councils) in particular contributing to social cohesion and inclusion, civic participation and democratic citizenship.
• Youth workers at local, regional and national levels provide quality and accessible youth work to respond to the needs of young people affected by the war and facilitate their access to rights based on standards and approaches of the Council of Europe.
• Youth workers and administrative staff of youth centres in Ukraine deliver services for young people particularly from those vulnerable groups such IDPs, returnees and the war-affected people in line with the Council of Europe standards and approaches and with peer-support of youth centres awarded with the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres.
• Youth work providers (youth organisations) deliver services for young people particularly from those vulnerable groups such IDPs, returnees and the war-affected people with the Council of Europe expert and technical support.

The Project: “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: II Phase”

Duration: 24 months (1 January 2022 – 31 December 2023)

Place/ country: Ukraine

Funding: Voluntary contributions

Impact expected

Young people in Ukraine benefit from participatory and gender sensitive youth policy and youth work to exercise their human rights and freedoms, democratic participation and citizenship.

The Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II” stresses the importance of the Council of Europe youth sector strategy 2030 and  reflects the current youth policy reforms in  Ukraine, notably the National strategy of the State Youth Policy 2030, the  State Target Social Programme “Youth of Ukraine” 2021-2025.

The Project will engage youth policy stakeholders and youth work providers in Ukraine in the implementation and  dissemination of Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member  states: on Access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social  rights (CM (2015) 3), on Access to rights for young people (CM(2016)7) and on youth work (CM(2017)4).

The Project will be implemented within the following components with the respective activities:

• youth participatory and gender sensitive youth policy
• youth work  recognition and quality
• social cohesion and inclusion

Intermediate outcomes

• Civil servants (of whom at least 40% are women) at local, regional and national levels implement participatory  and gender sensitive youth policies applying the policy setting documents of the Council of Europe
• Youth workers provide quality and accessible youth work for all groups of young people at local, regional and national levels based on standards of the Council of Europe (at least 50% of the youth workers involved are women)
• Youth work providers promote social cohesion and inclusion through their programmes and  activities for and with young people including those who are at particular  risk of becoming vulnerable

The Project covers work with the representatives of the local authorities and youth organisations in order to contribute jointly in strengthening youth participation and civic engagement of young people in both rural and urban settings (including young people with disabilities, youth from minorities, as well as young migrants, refugees, IDPs and those affected by conflict) by developing the capacities of youth policy stakeholders and improving the quality of youth policy and youth work based on the Council of Europe standards.

The Project will engage youth policy stakeholders of Ukraine in the implementation and dissemination of Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member states: on Access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights (CM (2015) 3), on Access to rights for young people (CM(2016)7) and  on youth work (CM(2017)4).

Title of the Project: Youth For Democracy in Ukraine

Duration: 22 months (1 March 2020 – 31 December 2021)

Place/ country: Ukraine

Funding: Voluntary contributions

Project objective is to contribute in strengthening youth participation and civic engagement of young people in both rural and urban settings (including young people with disabilities, youth from minorities, as well as young migrants, refugees, IDPs and those affected by conflict), by developing the capacities of youth policy stakeholders and improving the quality youth policy and youth work based on the Council of Europe standards.

The Project will implement within the following сomponents with the respective activities:

• Supporting building of the rightsbased youth policy promoting youth participation and civic engagement at local level in Ukraine, according the Council of Europe youth sector standards and approaches.
• Promoting quality youth work based on youth participatory approach and nonformal education through the work of local youth centres and youth organisations for and with young people.
• Promoting intercultural dialogue through youth policy and youth work programmes and to empower minority groups for participation in local and regional life.

Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine

2023-2024

Ten NGOs from 9 regions in Ukraine and Kyiv participate in the long-term capacity building programme “Access to Youth work”:

• Centre for Social Transformations TENET, Sumy region, Okhtyrka
• Space of Public Initiatives, Dnipropetrovsk region, Pershotravensk
• Go Byond, Chernihiv
• The Youth of Olexandria, Kirovohrad region, Olexandria
• NACHYNNYA, Kyiv region, Fastiv district, Tarasivka
• TOLKOVI, Zhytomyr region, Zvyagel district, Dovbysh
• COME OUT TO PLAY, Kyiv
• YOUCHANGE, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ivano-Frankivsk district, Kluziv
• Youth Sails, Volyn region, Novovolynsk
• Creative space "Kredents", Zakarpattia region Rakhiv district, Yasinya

2022

Four-month programme “Trauma Informed Youth Work” involves youth workers from twelve regional and local youth centres of different ownership forms:

• Non-Governmental Organisation “Youth Centre of Kirovohrad Region”
• Municipal Institution “Vinnytsia Regional Youth Centre “Square”
• Municipal Institution “Nizhyn City Youth Centre” of the Nizhyn City Council, Chernihiv Region
• Municipal Institution “Chernihiv Regional Youth Centre” of the Chernihiv City Council
• Municipal Out-of-School Educational Establishment “Donetsk Regional Childre and Youth Centre”
• Non-Governmental Organisation “Okhtyrka Youth Centre”
• Youth Centre “Space of Ideas” (Non-Governmental Organisation Kremenchuk
• Information and Education Centre “European Club”)
• Non-Governmental Organisation “Centre of Innovation, Social, Physical and Intellectual Development “People.ua”
• Municipal Institution of the Kyiv City Council “Plast Training Centre”
• Everything Will Be Fine, Khmelnytskyi (Non-Governmental Organisation “Events”, Mariupol)
• Non-Governmental Organisation “Volunteers of the State Higher Educational Establishment “Uzhhorod National University”
• Municipal Enterprise “Dnipro Youth Centre” of the Dnipro City Council

2020-2021

The list of local communities to be invited for the partnership for the component "Young People, Full Citizens" was presented on 8 October 2020. This component will support local authorities in the strengthening of youth participation and civic engagement through capacity-building, technical advice and institutional.

Partner communities:

• Hryhorivska village council, Kherson region
• Khoroshivska village council, Zhytomyr
• Kuialnytska village council, Odessa region
• Kurnenska village council, Zhytomyr region
• Novoukrainska city territorial community, Kirovohrad region
• Opishnyanska village council, Poltava region
• Pryshybska village council, Poltava region
• Uzhhorod city council, Zakarpattia region
• Vasylkivska city council, Kyiv region
• Velykokopanivska village council, Kherson region

The list of youth centres to be invited for the partnership for the component "Revitalizing youth centres and youth work" was presented on 9 March 2021. It aims at encouraging youth centres to review their approaches to ensure that their strategies meet the needs of young people and are in line with Council of Europe standards on youth participation and youth work.

National youth centre

• State institution All-Ukrainian youth centre (Kyiv) /Державна установа “Всеукраїнський молодіжний центр”
  
  Regional youth centres
  
• Regional Public Institution "Volyn Regional Youth Centre" (Youth Centre "YouthSphere") (Volynska oblast / Lutsk)    / Обласна комунальна установа «Волинський обласний молодіжний центр» (молодіжний центр «YouthСфера»)
• Donetsk regional children's and youth centre (Donetsk oblast / Kramatorsk) / Донецький обласний дитячо-молодіжний центр
•  Municipal institution of the Lviv regional council "Lviv regional youth centre" (Lviv oblast / Lviv) / Комунальний заклад Львівської обласної ради «Львівський обласний молодіжний центр»
• Vinnytsa regional youth centre "Kvadrat" (Vinnytska oblast / Vinnytsa) / Вінницький обласний молодіжний центр "Квадрат"
  
  Local youth centres
  
• Municipal Institution "Lviv Youth Centre" (Lviv oblast / Lviv) / Львівський міський молодіжний центр
• City Youth Centre (Khmelnytskyi oblast / Khmelnytskyi) / Міський молодіжний центр
• Novomoskovsk culture and education centre for children and youth (Dnipropetrovsk oblast / Novomoskovsk) / Новомосковський міський культурно-освітній дитячо-молодіжний центр
• Kyiv Youth Centre (Kyiv)/ Комунальна установа виконавчого органу Київської міської ради (Київської міської державної адміністрації) "Київський молодіжний центр"
• Okhtyrka Youth Centre (Sumy oblast / Okhtyrka amalgamated community) / Громадська організація «Охтирський молодіжний центр»
• Leisure Centre of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Executive Committee of the Varanska City Council (Rivne oblast/ Varanska amalgamated community) / Центр дозвілля відділу культури та туризму виконавчого комітету Вараської міської ради
• Municipal institution of Nizhyn city council of Chernihiv oblast "Nizhynsky city youth centre" (Chernihiv oblast / Nizhyn) / Комунальний заклад Ніжинських міський молодіжний центр Ніжинської міської ради Чернігівської області
• Municipal Institution of Sumy city council "Sumy city centre of youth leisure"  (Sumy oblast / Sumy) / КУ "Сумський міський центр дозвілля молоді" Сумської міської ради
• City Youth Centre (Zhytomyr oblast / Novohrad - Volynskyi) / Міський молодіжний центр

•  Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)7 on young people's access to rights  
•  Recommendation CM/Rec (2015)3 on the access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights 
•  YOUTH WORK IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Guide to Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member States on youth work
•  DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY, used by the Council of Europe in the youth policy field, for human rights and non-formal education 
•  Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Roma youth participation
•  Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on protecting youth civil society and young people, and supporting their participation in democratic processes
•  Youth sector strategy 2030
•  Quality standards in education and training activities of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe (revised in 2016)
•  The Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member States on the social, economic and political participation of rural youth CM/Rec (2025) 3

The Council of Europe Youth Portal
European Youth Centre Budapest
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
European Youth Foundation
Intergovernmental Cooperation
The EU-CoE Youth Parthership

Facebook Pages

Advisory Council on Youth
Council of Europe - Youth
European Youth Centre Budapest
EU-CoE youth partnership
European Youth Foundation
No Hate Speech Movement

• Mapping of approaches to assessing youth work impact in selected member states of the Council of Europe (2026)
• Report on the state of participation of young people in decision-making processes, taking into account the needs and realities of young people in the war and post-war period (2025) (only in Ukrainian)
• Manual on research on needs of young people
• Report of the research of the needs and state of activities of youth workers of Ukraine (2024)
• Presentation of the research results of the needs and state of activities of youth workers of Ukraine (2024) (only in Ukrainian)
• Report of the research of the needs and the state of activity of authorities and youth councils (2023)
• Presentation of the research results of the needs of youth centres and youth spaces of Ukraine (2023)
• Report of the research of the needs of youth centres and youth spaces of Ukraine (2023)
• Report of the research of the needs of the Ukrainian youth centres (2022)
• Report of the research on development of the occupational standard “Youth worker” (February-March, August-September 2022) (only in Ukrainian)

• Board game about youth participation “Solution exists!”
• Зірки. Stars. Les etoiles - Visual tool for education
• Educational and informational posters on resilience and recovery
• Simulative game “Red Lines” (How to create a youth centre in your community?)

•  Training manual on human rights and trauma-informed youth work (UKR)
•  Compass: Manual for Human Rights Education with Young People
• Have your say!: manual on the Revised European charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life
• Bookmarks: manual for combating hate speech online through human rights education
• Don't judge a book by its cover!: the Living library organiser's guide
• Self-assessment tool for youth policy
• Handbook “Step-by-Step together. Support, Tips, Examples and Possibilities for youth work with refugees”
• T-Kit 12 “Youth transforming conflict”
• T-Kit 6 “Training Essentials”
• Curriculum for experts of the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” (only in Ukrainian)
• Manual on research on needs of young people (only in Ukrainian)
• Guide on the Educational Course of Trauma Informed Youth Work
• Concept notes on the All-Ukrainian Networking Week for psychological support of young people “Youth work for resilience” (2023) (only in Ukrainian)
• Resilience Journal for Adolescents
• Training manual on social cohesion and barrier-free environment in the youth sector (only in Ukrainian)
• Training manual on participatory youth policy (only in Ukrainian)

 The Council of Europe Youth Work Portfolio (UKR)

 Youth Work in England: Policy, Practice and the National Occupational Standards

 The aufZAQ Competence Framework  

 Professional standards. Street work and mobile youth work

 Professional principles of social work on the street with adolescents and (young) adults who use psychoactive substances (Germany) (only in Ukrainian)

 Report of the research on development of the occupational standard “Youth worker” (February-March, August-September 2022) (only in Ukrainian)

Сollection of educational practices of higher education institutions of Ukraine in the field of youth work, based on the approaches and standards of the Council of Europe (only in Ukrainian)

 The second collection of youth work experience that is based on the approaches and standards of the Council of Europe, in the context of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine

 Collection of Experience of Youth Work Based on the Approaches and Standards of the Council of Europe in the Context of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine 

  Grants 2026

  About European Youth Foundation 

Presentation of open youth work projects of CSOs supported by the Council of Europe 2023-2024 (video recording) (only in Ukrainian)

•  Co-operation with youth centres that have the Quality Label of the Council of Europe
•  Notebook on youth participation for youth centres (only in Ukrainian)
•  The Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres. Good practices in youth centres  (available in Ukrainian only)
•  The Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres. Role, value and impact of youth centres  (available in Ukrainian only)
•  The Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres. Quality management in youth centres  (available in Ukrainian only)
•  Needs of Youth Centres in Ukraine (2022) 
•  Presentation of Research Results on Needs of Youth Centres and Youth Spaces in Ukraine (2023) 
•  Research Results on Need of Youth Centres and Youth Spaces in Ukraine (2023)